They Call Her Magpie Ethel

This is my friend Laurie...a.k.a Magpie Ethel. She is easily distracted by shiny objects. She makes magical creatures using vintage objects. She has naturally curly hair. Here she is, working in her studio which can best be described as a combination toy shop, candy store, Santa's workshop and glitter factory.

Our friend Kim, from Camp Whimsy, found this old wooden sign for Laurie/Ethel in an alley near her house. Something tells me there's more to the story, but for the sake of brevity, we'll continue our tour.

Laurie likes vintage paper party favors. A lot.

Babies of all shapes and sizes!

Laurie is organized....

Very organized.

This collection of vintage wire bells hangs from the light in her studio. I have asked her for it several times. Sadly, she always says no.

Happy stuff waiting to be transformed into something even happier.

Spun heads...by the hundreds.

Laurie keeps supplies in vintage suitcases...like foil reflectors, for instance.

A blissful array of color, texture and bling.

Next post: What she makes!

Knick Knack Patti Whack!

My friend Patti is hosting a swell event at her shop in NE Portland this weekend. 4 local crafters have set up mini shops of their own within the Butter Bean walls of Patti's delightful space.

Let's have a look, shall we?

Nancy Goldman creates awesome brooches out of plastic animals, ribbon, wire and beads...

She up-cycles cast off sweaters into warm and whimsical hats...

Nancy also attaches images to canvas and adds bits and bobs to complete the picture. A cat with a crown and an Italian Count with a rhinestone earring, for example.

Julie Feuerborn is a master of glass transfers...



Aren't they wonderful? (The girl with the bird on her head in the first photo now belongs to yours truly.)
Laurie Buckley knits beautifully...


and makes lovely jewelry too!

Trina Hesson does amazing things with paper and glitter...

and paints colorful and unusual ornaments for your holiday tree.

Don't miss this show chock-full of charming and very reasonably priced goodies.

Patti Smith West

3746 NE 42nd - 1 block north of Fremont St.

Saturday 11/12 from 11:00 am - 6:00 pm

Vintage Button Giveaway-a-Palooza

Thanks to all of you for playing along and for joining One Gal's Trashy Pals!

The winners of a package of vintage button happiness are:


Junque Gypsy

Andy's Attic

If I didn't have a sense of humor

Happy Cottage Quilter

Jay Made It

Shabby Loft

Robin's Woods

The Reluctant Mermaid

Dharma Waits

I Heart Everything


Winners....Please email me your mailing address and include the name of your blog:

dotproblem*at*msn*dot*com.

Thanks and xoxox
Pam

Vintage Button Giveaway

I'm still getting comments on my recent post about 10 pounds of vintage buttons.

As a thank you gesture to all of you who shared some trashy love after my recent bike fiasco, I'm giving away the whole happy pile to the members of One Gal's Trashy Pals.

I will create 10 packages that will look something like this....

Want in?

Here's what you do: Sign up as a follower of One Gal's Trashy Pals over there on the sidebar
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Already a member of OGTP? Fear not. Leave a comment for me on this post and I'll throw your name in too.

On August 25th, I will pick 10 names out of a hat and each winner will get her/his own package of buttons. There may even be more vintage happiness in the package...Say, like, perhaps a gorgeous yellow buckle. Perhaps.

Then pass the word (a.k.a. link). If you tell 3 friends and then they tell 3 friends and then they tell 3 friends...That's a lot of friends!

Dollar Store Upcycle

My friend Joan did a swell Dollar Store re-do for Valentine's Day earlier this year. When I found these frames at my local Dollar Store, I decided to follow Joan's lead and turn their lives around. The color left me cold, but that's why we love creamy white spray paint, right girls?

3 coats later.

Next, I searched through my drawers of random fabulous junk, grabbed my craft glue....

Et voila! A beachy themed frame....

And a gift for a new baby!

What's your best Dollar Store re-do? Please advise!

Junk Becomes Useful - 4th of July Version

Vintage 4th of July stuff is not that easy to find...but I do have some fun ephemera....post cards, old photos, vintage flash cards picturing a sailor and a white picket fence. I mean, what could be more American that that? I made some color copies and got to work...

I threw on some vintage buttons and look...birthday cards for my dad and my niece, who both have 4th of July birthdays.

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

It's Vintage Christmas Monday! My almost favorite day of the week, thanks Joan!

Many years ago, I found this jeweled tree here. It was in sorry shape, but since it cost a quarter, I felt it was a good investment. In another life it used to light up, but the cords in the back were hopelessly tangled and the bulbs were dead. It was painful, but I cut them all off with wire cutters. Next, I lovingly cleaned the black velvet, repainted the frame ~ and the best part of all ~ I added bits of shiny junk from my shiny junk drawer.

Would you like a closer look? Of course you would!

It hangs in our living room every Christmas and makes me very happy.

P.S. Hooray! I'm creeping up to 100 members of One Gal's Trashy Pals! Please join as a Follower over there on my sidebar
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and check back later this week for details on a Christmas Giveaway!